Magic to the Bone (Allie Beckstrom, Book 1)

Finally, an urban fantasy book with intriguing characters, a believable magic system, and a great mystery! I've been reading my way through plenty of so-so urban fantasy books, opening the next one with trepidation, bracing for the worst, and hoping to find a gem. This is what I've been waiting for! Allie is a Hound, she traces magic back to it's caster. In this world, each time magic is cast someone must pay a price. The wealthy usually pass those ill effects onto a proxy, someone that willingly pays the price for magic that is cast, but everyone else must take the damage unto themselves. Magic to the Bone begins with Allie being asked by a poor client of hers, Mama, to trace magic that has been illegally dumped off onto her son. The magic traces back to Allie's father, whom she hasn't seen in 7 years. On her way to confront her father, Allie meets Zay, a mysterious stranger that plays a bigger role in the grand scheme of things then he leads on. From there, we meet a troubled boy named Cody who eventually will help Allie learn some new and wonderful things about magic that will affect the entire world. Magic to the Bone is a wonderful foundation for a new series. I can't wait to find out more about the rich businessmen trying to control magic, Allie's stepmother, and Zay. There were enough twists, turns, and shockers in this book to keep anyone interested. Magic to the Bone is what urban fantasy should be!

Devon Monk has built a pungent, gritty-world, where magic is available to most but it's use, usually comes at a steep price. Today is Allie Beckstrom's 25th birthday. She is a hounder (someone who traces magic back to its user/caster) and is about to take one of the most costly hound jobs, that will change the course of her life for good. Not only does her job not pay enough for her to make her rent on her crappy apartment but her price for using magic to trace magic, is usually a chunk of her memory. On this night, she receives a call for a hound job in one of the worst parts of town. It concerns a case of wrongfully offloaded magic on a child and now the child's on deaths door. Her investigation into this case sets her up to be accused of murder. Now she's the one being hounded and is on the run for her life, w/ no where to go and everything to lose. And to top it all off, her love interest (Zayvion) and only ally was her former stalker, hired by her dad. This just may turn out to be one of the worst birthdays ever; if she survives. I really loved this book. It was exciting and interesting. Sometimes it was a little predictable but entertaining enough that the predictability didn't matter. If you're looking for a romance novel with a little mystery, this book may not be for you. If you're looking for a strong urban fantasy w/ a bit of hot sex, then you'll enjoy this book. I'm looking forward to Magic in the Blood due out May 2009. I also recommend: Pure Blood (Nocturne City, Book 2) Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, Book 2) Dragon Wytch (Sisters of the Moon, Book 4) The Outlaw Demon Wails (The Hollows, Book 6)

I LOVED this story!! If you're looking for lots and lots of sexxoring, stick with L.K. Hamilton. If you're looking for sappy romance- pick up some Harlequins at Walmart. If you're looking for a KICK-BUTT heroine and LOTS of action, adventure, mystery AND magic, with a little bit of love in all the right places- pick up THIS book!! :) I imagine fans of Ilona Andrews, Lily Saintcrow, Ann Aguirre, Rachel Caine (to name a few) will most likely enjoy this new series as much as I did, if not more! Such a unique take on magic within the genre. CAN'T believe we are going to have to wait until May 2009 for the sequel! Oh the agony!

A recommendation by Nina Kiriki Hoffman on the back cover prompted me to pick up this debut novel of urban fantasy. It was very refreshing to see the concept of magic presented in a new, and in many ways more logical, form. Nothing is free in this world including the use of magic. The greater the magic the greater the cost - including pain and memory loss. What happens when people find ways to exact this cost out of innocents? I look forward to the next book in this highly promising series.

This is one of the best books I have read this year. The new magic system is amazing. The cost of using magic gives this book some realism that I think is missing from urban fantasy. This is a must read!